Celebrate the life of Cherry Wellman

Wednesday July 27, 4 - 8 pm at Leppert Mortuary, 740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis, Indiana (1 blk E of College Ave). 317-844-3966

Thursday July 28, 10 am at St. Lukes Catholic Church, 7575 Holliday Dr. E., Indianapolis, Indiana 46260 (2 blks W of Meridian on 75th St)

Pall Bearers: Derek Wellman, Brian Wellman, Chris Wellman, Bob Wellman, Mike Wellman, Nick Wellman, Ray Fini, Craig Fletchall

Readings by: Derek Wellman, Chris Wellman, Marilyn Fini. Eulogies by: Brian Wellman & Bill Hubbs. Lay Assistant: Barb Hubbs

Immediately following funeral mass at OakLawn Memorial Gardens, 9700 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, Indiana

But first and foremost, in her mind she was a mom and a grandmother, and these were some of her favorite pictures of herself:

Little Cecelia Clair was born on February 24, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois to Ken and Agnes Miller. Born close to George Washington's birthday and with vibrant red hair, it was almost automatic...she would be called "Cherry". Cherry and her parents soon moved to Omaha Nebraska. She went to Vinton Grade School, graduated from South High School in 1963, and received a degree in economics from IU in 1988. Cherry was the eldest of three siblings, Donna Linn and Cindy McDowell.

Cherry and Skip met at Rocky's Hideaway, a college hangout near Creighton, in June of 1966. Skip saw this good looking blonde and asked her to dance. 'Wow! She looked awful good in that blue and white check slack suit! One thing led to another, and on June 28, 1969 they were married. On their honeymoon a bank error left them with extra spending money. They had a three week honeymoon in Florida witnessing the blastoff of Apollo 11, the first rocket to take men to the moon. They settled in Charlotte where they had their first born son, Derek.

After moving to Indianapolis in 1971, they completed their family with the additions of Brian and Chris. Cherry loved to do everything: dancing, tennis, walking, golf, listening to music, playing the piano, exercising, teaching water aerobics for the physically challenged. She loved going out to do anything, especially bridge and going out to dinner. She was vivacious and had a personality that would light up the room. She also loved to get her 3 kids involved in everything: tumble and trample, the circus, parades, horseback riding, little league baseball, football, basketball, soccer, swim team, piano and Spanish lessons, movies, etc.

Cherry had begun to experience some physical problems during the 70's and early 80's, and in 1987 was diagnosed with progressive degenerative Multiple Sclerosis. Initially she ignored the diagnosis. She came home from the doctor and said "They didn't find anything." A year later, the truth was becoming evident. From 1987 through 1991 Cherry went from limping to using a cane to using a walker. On August 12, 1991 she was involved in a serious car accident. The accident really triggered the MS and Cherry was never able to walk again.

Though she couldn't live a physically active life on her own, she stayed as active as possible - she lived vicariously through the family she loved so incredibly much. Every day was filled with excitement at what was going to happen next with Skip, Derek, Brian, Chris, and eventually Amy and Eli. This excitement and love completely masked that she had a tough physical impairment. She looked forward to her weekly battles at the bridge table, where, though physically unable to hold the cards, she could still play, and play well - winning regularly. Another thing she could do was pick up the phone and talk to her boys and her friends, which she loved to do.

At the time of her death, she had been confined to a wheelchair for almost 14 years. During the entire time of her illness, she only complained once. Cherry always focused on the positive. Cherry loved to spend time with her friends, loved to socialize, and loved being with her family. In Jan 2002, Cherry became a grandparent and cherished her time with Eli. She was always cheerful, always had that beautiful smile going for her, and was always wanting to know when the next get-together was going to start.

On April 16th, Cherry ended up in the Intensive Care Unit of St. Vincent's Hospital with severe pancreatitis. Three times the doctors said she wouldn't make it through the day. For three and half months she never gave up, fighting off more problems than you could imagine. Even in ICU, she always had a huge smile and a friendly wink. Cherry still lit up the room just as she always will our hearts.

Cherry has been and will continue to be a true inspiration to anyone that knows her story. She touched and enriched the lives of so many, from family and friends, to people that didn't even know her.

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This Eulogy is given on behalf of myself and my wonderful brothers, Derek and Chris.

We are an incredibly strong family, but we’re very weak right now because we’ve lost our nucleus, our Achilles' heel.

We’ve dreaded this day and this moment forever – but especially since mom was diagnosed with M.S. about 15 years ago when my dad and I took that tense and fearful walk down to St. Vincent’s hospital. The beloved and only woman of our family – our princess and our queen – had a car accident while going through the McDonald’s drive through after she went to get one of her favorite fountain diet cokes. The biggest challenge of her life was about to begin, and she made it look like a breeze.

Our mom’s life can be summed up in two words – Unconditional Love – which, if you knew us when we were younger, was absolutely necessary. Unconditional love for her husband, Unconditional love for her three boys, and unconditional love for all her family and friends. While we were growing up, her life revolved around taking care of us. She worked frantically to get each one of us to our respective sport or activity. In between that, she was cooking, cleaning, and keeping our hectic household together.

Our mom has so many friends who she loved and cared for so much and who felt the same way about her. It was so easy to tell how much she loved us all by that smile she sprouted when we entered the room or called. My favorite thing to do anytime since I’ve been away from Indianapolis, was to call her on the phone almost every morning. One of the few physical things she was still able to do was to pick up the phone and I could feel the warmth and the love, and I could feel that smile of hers through the phone line and it was such a wonderful feeling – it was such a great way to start my days.

My mom taught us all so much. She fought that crippling, debilitating disease day after day and year after year – and she beat it – with nothing but smiles – that big bright ear-to-ear smile of hers’ that could light up a whole room and make everyone who was in it feel warm, cozy, welcome and happy. She and my dad whipped an evil and incurable disease for so long by simply not letting it get in the way of their happiness. Any time we were all together, it was as if it wasn’t even there – that it didn’t exist.

So to help my mom’s legacy live on, let us all celebrate this wonderful woman by realizing a few things that she passed on to Derek, Chris and I and many others as well – you play with the hand you’re dealt, and you play it to the best of your ability – time spent feeling sorry for yourself is time that could be spent smiling or laughing or making happy memories. Don’t take one moment on this Earth for granted. Don’t get caught up in the constant, never-ending daily frustrations of life. Focus on love, patience, happiness, kindness, generosity and an endlessly positive attitude – especially with your family and friends. She taught us all how to look at only the positive side of things – even in horrible circumstances – there’s always a good way of looking at any situation.

It’s hard writing this only about my mom, because my mom wasn’t my mom without my dad. Most of you know, but to show you what kind of a man my dad is, I’ll tell you about the time they decided to attend an M.S. support group and it turns out that my dad was the only one – out of 20 people – who didn’t have M.S. Every other person there was a victim of M.S. whose’ spouse had left them. A friend called him a Saint once and we strongly agree.

This is going to be incredibly hard for my dad because he loved my mom so much and he spent all day everyday for nearly 15 years caring for her. But I know that if she could whisper in my ear right now and tell me what to say to my dad, she’d say this “Skeeeup, at least you don’t have to get me icy hot every five minutes any more!” And she’d also say, “Skeeeup, we’ll see each other again some day, and I’ll be nagging you constantly again, so don’t worry. In the mean time, be strong, be healthy, and stay here as long as you can, because I need you to take care of my three boys, our grandson, our daughter-in-law, our future daughter’s-in-law, and all our future grandchildren. And laugh as much as you possibly can and make as many memories as you can because I’m watching over all of you and I EXPECT you to be happy and to entertain me as I watch over you."

I’m a little biased, and I don’t want to short change what anyone else’s parents mean to them, but I have the greatest and most amazing parents a person could ask for – the most wonderful two people God could possibly have given to me – He did. To be completely honest, I’m a little upset at God right now. I’m confused as to why He would take such a loving and caring person from us all and why He put my mom through everything He did. But more importantly – most importantly - I want to thank God, so, sooooooo much, from the bottom of my heart and from the depths of my soul, for giving us all such a wonderful person for the time that He did.

We had a lotta laughs, Momma, and a lot of memories that we’ll cherish forever, and we’ll have many more again some day. We love you and we miss you so much already and we can’t wait to see you again. But we’re gonna’ wait and we’re gonna’ make the most of our time in this world and we’re gonna’ make the most of our lives, because that’s what you taught us to do. Good bye Momma – you know how much we love you.

CHERRY MILLER WELLMAN

My earliest memories of Cherry are the play days we had as little girls growing up in South Omaha. We would be on the back porch playing dolls; one day, I jumped up and down in her baby doll bed and broke it as I was the TOM BOY; she was the PRINCESS!!

So it was; the PRINCESS; dear Cherry. She could twist our Nanny, (another name for our Paternal Grandmother whom we lived with), around her little finger. She could do that with Mom and Dad also to an extent, but not as much as Nanny.

Our years evolved with Cherry growing into a "high spirited young girl"; one day when she got upset with the neighbor boy, she threw a "hatchet" at him. Thankfully, he didn't get hurt, he, also, never made the mistake of getting her mad again!

Her early teen age years were of the "rebel" kind as many of us were; first with the "duck tail" look and the high collar and then with the "obsession" over James Dean and his death when I would wonder if she'd ever come out of her room from crying over it.

She was popular in high school with being on the Student Council and planning dances. Some of the dances, Mom and Dad made me go with her as they didn't "trust" the boys and I'd find myself following behind her as she had a group of the guys "infatuated" with her good looks.

One of my favorite memories is when she came home and presented the whole family with a "gift" for the Christmas tree from the money she earned at her first job at the BOYSTOWN POST OFFICE; it was a string of beads that she pulled out from the sack with a "flair".

When we moved out to California for a while in 1954, (Cherry was 10), we had fun with the "quakes" but didn't like the "fast life" of the kids. We were glad to return to good old Omaha but always had wonderful memories of our family driving across country, (way before the Interstate); through the mountains and over the plains.

Most of all, I remember that even when we fought as in the time we threw Mom's clean clothes from the wringer washing machine at each other when we were in the basement and got into a fight: we would always "stick up for each other" through thick and thin" against anyone who said anything bad about the other one".

I'm going to miss my Dear Sister; I'm going to miss the times she'd call and we'd start a laughing spell because I couldn't understand" what she was saying. She would just start to laugh;
this would go on with both of us until we finally got Skip to figure out what she was saying.

She always had something "important" to say; it could be way off base from what the subject was but, she had it right; if you think of something, say it before you forget it! Many times others didn't know what we were talking about but we did; we could communicate the "MILLER" way, too, one of Skip's favorites, with the "we're #1" sign!

The last time I saw her, in April, I know she recognized me and she had that "look" of hers; the beautiful eyes that one of my sons described as "sexy" and the lovely mouth that Skip so meticulously cared for each morning. I was blessed to have a Sister like her as many people never experience that kind of caring that one Sister has for another.

She would always ask how YOU were; never complained about HER; she would always be "happy" and never "down" and I would feel ashamed if I'd complain about a "headache" after seeing her try to move one of her arms just a "smidgen".

I know that her time was here, (as they say), but my time to let her go was not; I know she suffered in that hospital bed all those months, maybe not in pain but much discomfort and I would not want her to go on like that indefinitely; but now I feel SORRY for my SELF as I am going to MISS the spirited, amazingly resilient sister that I call CHERRY MILLER WELLMAN.

My Sister Cherry (Chee Chee Ba Ba),
I don't know where Cherry got that nickname, although Donna's was Dody &
mine was Willy. It was probably my mom because she always said silly but
affectionate things to us.
One of my first "picture" memories is of our whole family Mom, Dad,
Cherry, Donna, Myself & I think Nanny at Lake Okoboji (which coincidentally
is where Cherry & Skip got together). I was about 3 or 4 years old, so
Cherry would've been 13 or 14. We have a picture of her playing in the sand
with me.
I know from Mom that Cherry was always a happy, smiling baby, but one
time my parents were at Lanoma Beach with her & they put her down on the
boardwalk & walked away from her (backwards) so they could get a picture of
her crying.
When she was a teenager she was tough-she'd wear jeans & a leather jacket
with a cap on her head & saddle shoes. She got mad at a girlfriend down the
street Rita Trummer, and one night put a hose through her bedroom window &
turned it on. She had quite a temper, as Skip would attest to.
When I was little I was walking across the street, I was about 4, because
Cherry was sitting on the steps of Linda Burgraff's house & a car almost ran
over me, they had to go up on an embankment to stop from hitting me. Cherry
came and grabbed me because she was so frightened. I'm sure she cussed the
guy up & down, so he would pay better attention next time.
Donna would have me spy on Cherry to find out if she was saying anything
about her, when I was about 6 or 7. At that time Cherry was the elusive
older sister that I just admired. I hung out mostly with Donna, as Cherry
was involved in high school & "boys". I would sit & watch Cherry put on her
makeup or curl her hair at her dresser with the two drawers on each side & a
round mirror in the middle. I loved watching her. She had beautiful red
hair, but I think she was dying it blond then.
She bought me 2 of my first albums when I was 7. Beach Boys Greatest
Hits (a 3 album set) & The Four Seasons Gold Album.
Cherry was born in Chicago, whereas Donna & I (I think) were both born in
Omaha. The moved into my Nanny's house (my Dad's mom) & I know Cherry &
Nanny were very close. She died when I was 5-so Cherry would've been 15.
My parents stayed there at 3805 South 23rd Street until I was out of
highschool.
Once when I was in 4th or 5th grade my next door neighbor Steven Kidder
(who had a crush on me) was playing with an ax, throwing it at a tree right
by our side fence in front of our house. Cherry saw him come close to
hitting me with it & came storming out our screen door & picked up the ax &
threw it at a tree, pretty close to Steven. He was quite shaken-serves him
right! She was my hero.
When I was 6 or 7, Cherry, Donna & I would dance around to music in the
frontroom. Cherry taught me the "pony" - Donna would do the "chicken" &
continues to the day (Ha Ha) to do it. Cherry was a great dancer, the
faster the song, the better. One of her favorites was "Mony, Mony, by Tommy
James & the Shondells. She also liked Ruby Ruby, Hey Paula, Peaunuts (by
the Four Seasons) & of course Sherry Baby by them too.
When she was dating Skip I played "Ouija Board" with him and asked it if
he was going to go to Australia (that was his plan). I wanted him to stay
for my sister & as you all know-He Did!!!

I met Cherry in the early 70's through the Eastside Welcome Wagon. I have so many memories to treasure about her! Cherry and I spent several summers chasing a "white ball" around golf courses to much frustration! Tennis followed golf which we played for many years. We could always find an hour to play with or without the kids (six pre-schoolers and their big wheels!!). Cherry was such a competitive player, but if she gat mad at her game, I knew I could win easily! We shared many times together raising our kids; there was never a dull moment."

Skip and Cherry and Ray and I have been friends for decades! The memories of all our good times (trips, dinners, bridge, parties, holiday celebrations) will last forever! Cherry was a fun-loving, "dynamite" kind of person! Her positive approach to M.S. was admirable. She had a smile on her face the last time I saw her. We will miss her dearly! Oh, what a friend!

Dear Aunt Cherry,

   You have no idea how much you have impacted my life. You are the
strongest woman that I know. I've never heard one complaint ever come out
of your mouth because above all else you are a HAPPY person who puts
everyone else's needs before your own. Which is why I'm sure you were
destined to be with Uncle Skip because this is the type of person that I've
always seen him to be as well. My whole life I've dreamt of having the kind
of relationship that you and Skip have, two best friends that would do
anything for each other & who NEVER lost that feeling.
   My most recent & special memory that I have with you is when we all went
to Omaha for Pat's wedding. We were at Aunt Donna's house and you asked me
if I would do your makeup for you, because you never left the house without
makeup. You and I sat there for about 10-15 minutes while I put makeup on
you, the same way that I put my own makeup on even though you didn't need
nearly that much with your beautiful skin, but you looked in the mirror and
said that I did a great job and that you looked beautiful & then everyone
else agreed.
   I wish so much that I could've been there for you when you went into the
hospital, but I know that you know that I love you very much and I was there
in spirit as you will forever remain with me.

With all of my love,
Your youngest niece Meghan

A Remembrance from Cherry's Niece Marisa and Grand-Niece Mickayla McDowell:

Aunt Cherry,

   I love you. I think of you so often. I still remember a wonderful
Thanksgiving at your home. I remember that you served duck and I was
shocked, but you told me to have a sense of adventure. And of course, you
were right-I loved it!
   You and your husband taught me about love. Real-true-love. Your
devotion to each other, your companionship for each other was-is still a
beacon for me. I learned about romance from you.
   All of my physical memories of you were in my childhood. But I hope you
know that our phone conversations, our Christmas cards, the pictures of you
& stories I was told have made me very grateful. You are always in my
heart.

Your loving nieces,
Marisa
&
Mickayla

They say that God brings people into our lives for many different reasons. Some people come into your life when you least expect it and some people are there for a lifetime. When they leave we are sometimes left with questions as to why they are gone. I believe God blessed us with Cherry, no matter how long it was, to show us how wonderful life can be.

When I think of my Aunt Cherry her smile appears in my eyes. Her beauty was not only on the outside but, on the inside as well. She had this sense of humor that could make anyone, young or older, light up. And she would include everyone in on it.

Growing up I was able to be with the Wellman's almost every Christmas and some summer vacations. One year, I think I was 11 or 12, I flew out to Indianapolis with my Grandma Miller to see Aunt Cherry and the boys. We went to the pool one day and I remember watching her walk around like she owned the place. Only few are granted with such grace as she had even if it's in her bathing suit. She had this aura about her that made people just stop and stare. Oh, how much I wanted to be around her!

Our family has this obsession with the video recorder dating back to the 60's. A reoccurring "production" are the Christmas' we all had together as kids. There's Aunt Cherry and my momma, Donna Lee, hamming it up for the camera saying there "Hi's" and waving to the camera. That was their thing, laughing and "gossiping". If anyone knew what was going on it was those two.

My heart aches that she is gone to heaven. I don't even think it's settled in yet. Though God has given me so much all ready, the times that I have spent with the Wellman's have been some of the best times of my life. They have all opened my eyes to show me what life is all about. To appreciate everyone who enters into my life. Everyone has troubles; it's how you deal with them that makes you who you are. Aunt Cherry was the strongest, most admirable person I have ever known. I thank God that she was in my life.

A Remembrance from a new Family Friend, Laura Long (wife of Derek's good friend, Jeremy) & (who also just happened to be the surgical assistant to Cherry's surgeon)

My first memory of Cherry is at her 60^th Birthday party. (I know I met her a couple times before that, but that is my first real memory of her.) Unfortunately for me, most of my memories of her are from her three and a half months in the ICU. Even there, Cherry’s strength and positive attitude were apparent. It took me some time to understand her and know her different expressions. She would often show me her “I am trying hard/not giving up” face that Brian told me she learned when working out in the pool. I was surprised when she asked Amy to put her make-up on for her, but that just showed how positive she really was. Not even a near death scare or a major operation was going to hold her back; she was up and ready to fight the next day. I learned a lot from Cherry by looking at the husband she chose, the children she raised, and the friends she had. They are all so devoted, loyal, caring, positive, and good-looking. She obviously surrounded herself with people like herself. Some of my favorite visits with her were when Skip would tell me stories about the two of them, about their extra long honeymoon, Cherry swearing loudly (unbeknownst to her) into a speaker phone at the office, Skip walking in on one of his clients in the bathroom (whom he thought was Cherry), and his telling of their evening out to dinner the night before she came into the hospital. Seeing Skip’s love for his wife is inspiring. Seeing her children’s love for her is also inspiring. It is a struggle to see someone with so much strength and spunk and someone with so much love and support unable to get past all the obstacles placed before her. It was heartbreaking trying to explain to Derek that there was nothing more we could do, and to watch Cherry try so hard just to meet another challenge. She was an amazing woman. I lost both of my parents very suddenly which I had always thought was best. But I am so thankful for Cherry’s strength and that she fought for so long to get better because that gave me the chance to know her. I am grateful that I will continue to know her through her family and everyone she touched.

Cherry Wellman, what a woman! Cherry was a wife, mother, grandmother, and fierce competitor at everything she did. She was a great friend with an upbeat personality and a great smile. She loved life and lived it to the fullest.

It is such a challenge for we mortals to understand how and why GOD selects those that he chooses to carry a burden that the rest of could not handle nor understand. Cherry was such a person that GOD chose her to teach us how to carry a burden. She carried her burden of MS with grace and humility. She impacted the lives of everyone that she touched. She suffered so much and complained so little.

I first met Skip in 1973. My wife and I had moved to Indianapolis from the Northern and colder part of the state, namely Elkhart. Since my hair had stated to fall out, probably due to the stress of marriage and parenthood, Skip's ad in the Indianapolis Star caught my attention. After many trips to his Clinic and many $$$$$ later, Skip invited us to play bridge at his home. However, he warned me that his wife was very competitive and did not like to lose. He informed me that he loved to beat her at bridge, which he felt did not happen often enough, and I should make certain that my game was at the highest level possible.

True to her form, Cherry was playing with a vengeance and fighting to win every hand. Skip, however, was more interested in making passes at Cherry. At the end of the evening two things were clear to us. Cherry was as competitive as Skip had told us and, based on Cherry's allegations, Skip needed to be renamed the Omaha pervert.

Since that evening our family friendship continued to flourish and our memories of Cherry are many.

In the end, Skip, you were the best care giver I have ever known. You demonstrated love and compassion that can only come from the heart. You and Cherry shared a love and friendship that will serve as an inspiration to your children, as well as your friends and acquaintances.

Cherry touched the hearts and minds of everyone she knew and she will not be forgotten.

Stan and Cindy Compton

(This letter was written 07/26/05)

Hi Cherry,

I didn't think that I would be writing to you this week; up in Heaven, where I know you are. I miss you SO much; I've missed you for such a long time, i.e., since April 16th. I believe that we talked that week; I think it was on a Tuesday. I'm getting ready to cry thinking about it, I never imagined that it would be my very last time to talk to you. I guess we never know when the last time of anything is going to happen.

I will miss your laugh, most of all, as we sure enjoyed some good ones together on the days that we talked. I will miss the way you would be so inquisitive and knowledgeable and you always seemed to know what to say if something was needed. Most of all, I will miss seeing you on our visits to Indy or your visits here.

GOD, I don't know how Skip is going to be; he's been your Number one "cheerleader" and Number one Soul Mate for all these years. You'll need to really watch over him.

Watch over me, too, please. I can feel the lump in my throat; I can feel the ache in my heart; I can feel the tears forming in my eyes; but I can't FEEL the loneliness YET that will invariably come in the next few days, weeks, months and years.

Thank you for being the best of Sisters; Thank you for always knowing when I needed you to listen; Thank you for sharing your Life with me; Thank you for being kind and loving toward my Children but most of all Thank you for being YOU!!

You are amazing, you know. Any other woman caught in an immovable body may have gone off the deep end, or may have been mean, or may have felt sorry for herself. But not CHERRY MILLER WELLMAN. No, you took the "bull by the horns" and you dealt with it by making it a "journey". It wasn't the journey that you had planned for your life but you turned "lemons" into lemonade with the way you faced the problems in your life.

I will think of you every day for the rest of my life, dear Sister. Say "HI" to Mom and Dad and all of our other loved ones. Watch over us poor souls here on Earth; help us to be kind to each other and to LOVE ongoing as you did with your wonderful husband, Skip, and your sons, Derek, Brian and Chris, and your daughter-in-law, Amy and your Precious Grandson, Eli.

It's going to be hard to see you tomorrow, but it would be harder if I DIDN'T see you; you'll have the finest of "callings" as Skip said they are calling the "viewing", because you have had the "finest" of LIFE!

Love, Donna

Cherry,
   Your name always fit you perfectly; a unique individual, one of a kind.
Your voice was like bells, your walk had a cute bounce to it, you had
beautiful soft skin, flashy eyes & hair of such a gorgeous hue. You were
always my idol!!
   Cares seemed to roll right off your shoulder. You had so much vitality
and sense of purpose in your life that NOTHING could get you down.
   You may be gone from me in body, but never in my mind, heart & spirit.
I'll keep you alive in my thoughts of you, which are many.
   I love you so very, very much & always will.

Your sister,
Cindy

A few Remembrances from our good friend (and member of our wedding party) Bob Sledge of Omaha:

(Please keep in mind that although Bob doesn't drink anymore, his mind is still quite foggy :-)

Our First Meeting By Bob Sledge

The first time I met Cherry was at Lake Okoboji, Ia. It's a summer resort for college students in the Midwest. Upon arriving at the Lake, Skip & I proceeded to the famous watering hole "The Peacock Lounge", for some libations & dance. Skip had met Cherry a few weeks before, and spotted her & asked her to dance. It was love at first sight. As they were dancing, I went to the bar for a beer. Standing next to me were four Iowa football players. One of the guys, about 6'5" tall & tipping the scale at 270 lbs. was very upset. I overheard him say he was going to kill that little S.O.B. for dancing with Cherry. I went to the dance floor to warn him. Skip, who was known for his swift feet, took Cherry by the hand & exited through the kitchen of the bar. Later that night I saw Skip & Cherry running on the beach with the football player in hot pursuit. Knowing of Skips great speed I had little concern for his safety. After the players gave up, I asked Cheery if they would have harmed Skip. She said no-way, she would have kicked there butts if they touched him.

Cherry's Temper by Bob Sledge

Skip & I are at a college party. Skip is in the bathroom when Cherry arrives at the festivities. Cherry asked me "Where’s Skip?” I pointed to a closed bedroom door. Cherry did a Karate kick to the door. It flew open & slammed into our mutual friend Jim O'Donnell, who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The door hit Jim, bringing him to his knees. Skip is exiting the bathroom, which was on the other side of the bedroom, & asked, "What happened to you?” Jim says, half dazed, "Cherry".

Remembering your Wedding Day, Cherry by Bob Sledge

Cherry is walking down the long center isle of the Cathedral Church. She is about half way down, when a late guest opened the large center door to enter the church. A gust of wind blew Cherry's veil, at which time Cherry turns to the rear of the church & says, "Would somebody close that *#*! Door!" We’ll miss you, Cherry................Bobby.

IT HAS BEEN ALMOST FOUR YEARS SINCE THAT FATEFUL SUNDAY AFTERNOON WHEN I
RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM ONE OF CHERRY'S AND SKIP'S DEAR FRIENDS; CAN'T
REMEMBER HER NAME AT THE MOMENT BUT I WAS AT WORK WHEN I GOT THE CALL. MY
HEART SKIPPED A BEAT WHEN SHE SAID THAT CHERRY WAS IN SERIOUS CONDITION
AND "THEY" DIDN'T KNOW HOW LONG SHE WOULD BE WITH US.

WE, DUANE AND I, PACKED A BAG AND STARTED DRIVING TO INDIANAPOLIS, A TRIP
WE HAD MADE MANY TIMES IN THE PAST BUT THIS TIME THE "VISIT" WASN'T ONE WE
WERE "EXCITED" ABOUT AS WE HAD BEEN WHEN WE WENT TO SEE THE WELLMANS OVER
THE YEARS.

IT WAS 6:30 IN THE MORNING WHEN WE ARRIVED AND SKIP TOOK US TO CHERRY'S
ROOM IN I.C.U. BEING A NURSE, I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE PATIENTS IN I.C.U,
CRITICAL AND ON MACHINES, BUT, WITH MY DEAR SISTER, IT WAS DIFFERENT. I
WAS TAKEN ABACK AT THE CHERRY I SAW IN THAT BED. THAT IS, UNTIL SHE
FLUTTERED THOSE BEAUTIFUL EYES AND LOOKED AT ME.

I KNEW SHE WAS AWARE THAT WE WERE THERE AND, LATER, HER NIECE'S JACKIE AND
RHONI, MY TWO DAUGHTER'S CAME AS WELL AS MY SON, KELLY MICHAEL AND OUR
SISTER, CINDY. WE WERE ALL ABLE TO SEE HER ONE AT A TIME FOR A BIT.

SHE IS IN MY THOUGHTS DAILY. I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE THERE THEY VOTED IN A
NEW POPE, POPE BENEDICT. WITH THE LENTEN SEASON UPON US, I AM THINKING OF
HER EVEN MORE FOR I KNOW SHE IS UP IN HEAVEN WATCHING OVER ALL OF US AND
KEEPING TRACK OF HER BOYS. I AM SURE THEY ARE MAKING HER PROUD AS THEY
DID WHEN SHE WAS HERE ON EARTH.

AS I TALK TO SKIP EVERY NOW AND THEN, I AM REMINDED OF THE STRONG BOND THE
TWO OF THEM HAD/HAVE. NOT MANY OF US ARE BLESSED WITH THAT BOND WITH A
LOVED ONE SUCH AS CHERRY AND SKIP WERE. I WILL NEVER FORGET ALL THAT HE
DID FOR MY DEAR SISTER; HIS LOVING WIFE. I WILL NEVER FORGET HER SONS'
WORDS AT HER FUNERAL, ESPECIALLY BRIAN READING THEM; THE EULOGY THAT THEY
ALL HAD A PART IN BUT ONLY BRIAN COULD READ IT WITH SUCH "EMPHASIS" AS HE
IS THE ONE IN THE FAMILY THAT CAN GET UP IN FRONT OF CROWDS AND BE STRONG.

MOST OF ALL, I WILL REMEMBER MY DEAR SISTER EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF MY
LIFE AND I THANK GOD THAT SKIP IS KEEPING THIS WEBSITE SO WE ALL CAN BE
REMINDED AND SEND OUR THOUGHTS PERIODICALLY SO HER MEMORY WILL NEVER LEAVE
US; I KNOW IT WILL NEVER LEAVE SKIP OR DEREK, AMY, BRIAN, ANNA, CHRIS AND
HER GRANDSON, ELI. TY AND HALLE WILL HAVE THE MEMORIES OF THE FAMILY AND
THE PICTURES THAT WILL ALWAYS BE CIRCULATING. THEY WILL KNOW HOW VERY
SPECIAL THEIR GRANDMA CHERRY WAS AND SHE WOULD BE SO HAPPY TO HOLD THEM
AND TO KNOW SHE HAD ANOTHER LITTLE BOY AND, FINALLY, A BABY GIRL!

WELL, I'LL SIGN OFF AS I JUST WANTED TO PUT THESE THOUGHTS DOWN TO STAY ON
HER WEBSITE AS IT IS NEARING THAT FATEFUL DAY WHEN SHE WENT IN THE
HOSPITAL AND NEVER CAME OUT; BUT SHE WILL ALWAYS BE "ALIVE AND WELL" IN
OUR THOUGHTS AND BECAUSE OF THIS WEBSITE HER MEMORIES WILL LIVE FOREVER.

LOVE, YOUR SISTER, DONNA

It's been almost six years this July since my Dear sister left this earth but I know she is up in Heaven watching over all of us "eathlings" as I can imagine her doing. She was the dearest Sister one could have; when I'd call, it would always be her asking me how I was. She never complained about her M.S. as I, believe, I would have if I couldn't move about and help myself.

Yes, when Duane and I went to Mom and Dads' and Nanny's grave's on Saturday, I thought so much of Cherry and how they would have been so sad to have seen her in her condition but she didn't think nothing about it; she would just go about her day and wonder about all of the other people in her life.

She loved to plan and I miss her planning and her phone calls to this day. I cherish all the memories that we had over the last years before she left us and I think of her dear family and how they cope. She made them strong with her wit, her laughter, her wisdom and her nature and no other woman I have ever met has been able to match my Sister, Cherry's smile and happiness given what she had to deal with.

Her greatest joy, besides her Husband, Skip, were her boys, Derek, Brian and Chris and her delightful Grandson, she only met Eli, if I recall, but will be watching over all of the other ones who have, since, come along; two more for her precious Derek and Amy; Ty and Halle, and her dear Brian's and Anna's Baby boy, Luke and a little girl on the way.

But, as we humans are a selfish kind, I mainly miss talking to her and sharing our lives as we did for years and I still think of her everyday and how blessed we ALL were to have her in our life.

So on this Memorial Day, 2011, I wanted to send a special "memorial" to my dear Sister; love you, Cherry!